From Parma ham to pierogi – must-try foods in Europe

Foodies, when you are on your travels in Europe, here are some things to look out for as recommended by the travel company Trafalgar.

Italy

Your choice of the best meat cuts in Italy. Photo: Trafalgar

Sip chianti in Tuscany, enjoy prosciutto in Parma and savour authentic bolognese in the city of its origin – Bologna. Learn to make pasta or enjoy a simple dish of pasta al pomodoro, typically prepared with pasta, olive oil, fresh tomatoes, basil, and various other fresh ingredients. Explore the traditions of Italian cuisine and wine at their origin. Or simply indulge in a delicious gelato while people watching in Rome’s Piazza Navona. From panini to pancetta, explore the depth of foodie heaven when visiting Rome, Florence, Venice, Parma and Tuscany, and more.

There are so many options when you are in Spain to indulge. Photo: Trafalgar

Spain

Munch your way through Andalusia, Madrid, Seville and Barcelona. Join the locals at the maze-like La Boqueria Market in Barcelona, picking at samples of regional Manchego cheese, jamón serrano and fat olives. Crash the local tapas scene in Barcelona, learn how traditional paella is made during a cooking demonstration and savour the delicious local Catalan cuisine, from tuna escabeche to crema catalana.

Scotland

Game for some Speyside haggis? Photo: Visit Scotland

The Scots claim they have the best food country in the world! Scotland’s abundant natural larder of game, dairy products, fish, fruit and vegetables allows chefs to produce dishes that need much seasoning or spices. From Aberdeen Angus beef, Stornoway black pudding, Arbroath smokies and Shetland salmon, Lock Fyne oysters to Scottish whisky and craft beers, foodies can travel around Scotland to taste local specialties. Don’t miss Scotland’s national dish – the haggis – a savoury pudding that combines meat with oatmeal, onions, salt and spices. There’s even haggis ice-cream and haggis-flavoured crisps and chocolate!

Poland

The pierogi is calling out to you Photo: Trafalgar

An emerging destination for cuisine from the country that also famous for vodka. Some regional dishes to look out for include kwasnica (sauerkraut soup), placki po góralsku (potato pancakes with goulash) and smoked sheep’s cheese. Don’t miss trying the pierogi (Polish stuffed dumplings), but for those more adventurous foodies, you can try bull testicles, jellied calves’ trotters or duck blood broth with vinegar. Street food lovers should look out for zapiekanki “Polish pizza”, an open-faced baguette topped with melted cheese, chopped mushrooms and ketchup, or the obwarzanek touted as a symbol of Krakow, which is a chewy bread roll topped with poppy seeds, sesame or salt.